More Couch to 5k encouragement!

[PrincessWatermelon]

I hope it's ok starting a new thread. I found the last one so encouraging and didn't want it to stop!!

Also, have to share I've just done W6R3 - my first 25 min run. Wasn't sure I was going to make it to the end, but kept moving (as Jo Whiley told me to) and did it!!

How are others getting on?

Well who would have thought it????? I've just completed w6r3 and found it to be great. Don't know what or how but everything just felt right. I could listen to my pod cast without thinking about running whereas usually I can't concentrate on it as I'm too focused on my run. I say run.. It only comes up as a ridiculously slow pace of 10:55 per km so we're talking 52/3 mins for 5km, that includes the warm up warm down walk but tbh that's not much slower than my jog 😂 but I felt so good today I carried on after the 25 mins and jogged through the 5 min warm down so did a total of 30 mins continuous jogging!!!!!!!! Then did the walk down. I'm so chuffed with myself especially after Tuesday. Thanks to everyone for your supportive words. Gotta find some speed now. Now I've done the duration once I hope I can again and again ☺

Great work Needmybutt - steady is definitely the way to do it, apparently speed comes later!

Miranda that's exactly what keeps happening to me at the moment - I do try to plan out my routes but stuff (often social distancing on narrow paths) keeps literally sidetracking me and I keep finding hills.

Tonight I was trying a new route which proved to be blocked, just about managed to get back on track but it involved a very steep bank. That, and then some steep steps later (I really must learn to avoid them) nearly killed me! But W8 is done, unbelievably only 3 more runs to go before I graduate...

Blimey @Needmybuttkickedintoshape bloody well done!

Well done @UnaOfStormhold and @Needmybuttkickedintoshape

Just done my first w8 run, and it wasn’t too bad. Spent most of it trying to plan out what I will do after I finish! I’ve been wondering if I should switch from listening to music to listening to podcasts, now that I’m doing longer stretches. Might give it a try on my next run.

TeamEponine this (well, the whole forum really) is a very helpful resource on what to do after C25K: healthunlocked.com/couchto5k/posts/137240571/faq-post-c25k-completed%E2%80%A6%E2%80%A6.what-next

W7R1 done this morning.

There was definitely nothing left in the tank by the end of it - not helped by the heat (despite setting my alarm for quarter to six which is when I SHOULD have got up I didn't manage to get out of the house until 7 when it was already hotting up out there).

Just did W6R3!! I did it on a treadmill (done all W6 on a treadmill as it's too hot to run outside here in Greece). Not sure if I can run next week as we move to an apartment rather than the hotel we've been in that has a small gym in it. Anyway, that's beside-the-by. The fact is I just ran (slowly jogged) for 25mins. Speed not happening (worked out it was only at 6km per hour) but not fussed about that right now.

@mizu good luck today - just keep on going. I had peaks and troughs during today's run but found that the peaks generally lasted longer than the troughs 

@ArthurMorgan - I hope you manage to get out today for your first run. Trust the programme and don't worry if you feel you have to repeat a run. I've repeated each week twice because I injured my foot last time I tried C25K because I was too enthusiastic, so I decided to take it very slowly indeed thus time. Also make sure your running shoes are in good shape because that also contributed to hurting myself.

To all the graduates and near graduates: 🍾 🤩🥳

oceanpacific great job - treadmill is a great idea, any slight incline and I give an inward groan completed W6R3 this morning Phew. But it was slow. I didn't run much more than on my 20 min run but guess my body was telling me to take it easy otherwise I may not have made it!

Just got to keep going now........ only a few more days left.

@UnaOfStormhold thanks for that link. It was super helpful. I've saved a couple of the articles to read again and try and implement some of it.

One thing I really took from it was that we should be training easy. So 80-90% of training should be easy - slower pace than I have been trying and allows for conversation. I think i needed to hear that. I keep on pushing myself. So tomorrow (if I manage to get out early and escape the heat) I plan on concentrating on a slower pace.

@UnaOfStormhold Yes, thanks, that link is really helpful!

One thing I like about C25K is that you do have a "big goal" to work towards, but with lots of little steps.

I think I'd like my next "big goal" to be actually running 5k. In my 28 minutes of running this morning I only managed 3.2k, so I still have a way to go! Maybe I can add one minute every other run and build up to it slowly? I do also need to work on pace a little though.

The idea of running 5k non-stop just seems bizarre still!

Hi all, I've just found this! I've done w5r2 today. I'm doing next one on Sunday but I'm nervous about how I go from 8 to 20 mins. Please reassure me!

@Waitingforgodot congratulations for getting so far in the programme - from here on the runs are going to feel like massive achievements.
The thing is, you aren’t going from 8 to 20 - you’re going from 25 with some walk breaks to 20 without the extra walking! This was the point in the programme where I switched from briskly running intervals to consciously slowing down all the time, so I would recommend that. For the first part of the run, just get as slow as you can while still actually running, and you will be pleasantly surprised at how much energy you have for the later parts of the run. The programme is designed to take someone who has never run before to get to 20 minutes continuous running at exactly the point you are, so don’t worry about it, you’re definitely capable.

Just back from w5r1 and didn’t like it much. But I went out with a head full of dd and social workers. After relative stability she’s alternating between wanting a baby and suicidal plans (she’s been in hospital several times). She’s only 16. Although she did want to take up running so I’m getting her some headphones and hopefully she’ll go out with me. She’s not good at plans though x

Or planning isn’t good with her for lengthy periods. I didn’t mean to say she was rubbish at planning that’s not fair

@StillDumDeDumming it sounds like your DD has a lot of challenges right now. Running really helps my mental health when I'm struggling. It sounds like C25K might really help her.

@OceanPacific yes I hope so.

Thank you @CeciledeVolanges You're right when you put it like that!

Stillwaiting Here's another really handy post from the couch25k forum about week 5; healthunlocked.com/couchto5k/posts/139255210/week-5-myths-busted?responses=139257886

Stilldumdedumming that sounds like a really tough situation with your DD, hope the running helps.

I hope this is OK to ask here. What do you do after? I could do with a program to increase speed rather than running for longer (no time).

@StillDumDeDumming hi, fellow archers fan here, also with your daughter a mental health sufferer. I by no means have the answers, and this thread may not be the place for it. But honestly, every time I go out running I think about cutting for the first quarter of an hour. At her age I wanted to die by 21. The running helps. The running detracts from the self destruction. If you want to PM me either on your or your daughter’s behalf, please, please do. I am in my late twenties now and have just about survived all of that. You’re an amazing mother and she is a brilliant girl for getting this far! If I can help I’m here.

@StillDumDeDumming as with the poster above, I don't want to derail this thread, but DS(19) is bipolar, and we having been going through hell and back with him. The C25K is something that I am doing to get myself out of the intensity of the situation at home briefly, and recharge my batteries. I find the days I 'run' set my MH up for the day to feel more able to cope.

I just started yesterday. Looking forward running again tomorrow. I used to exercise fairly regularly before lockdown but only at the gym. I find it hard to motivate myself to workout at home or outside. Any attempt to just go for a run resulted in me only giving it a half hearted attempt. I hope this keeps me motivated. The voice on my app is Sarah Millican and she doesn't seem too judgmental lol

W9R1 done, and I had enough left at the end to carry on for my first 5k. Very very chuffed - having spent nearly 30 years swearing I hated running and just couldn't do it, who would have thought I would ever do anything like this! Lovely evening for it too - beautiful sunset over the estuary and a nice sea breeze to cool me down (I missed this when I looped back along the road at the end).

@CeciledeVolangesand @notaflyingmonkey thank you so much. Luckily dd’s MH does respond to exercise. I just think, like a lot of people, she’s found this pandemic tough. Such a big year has turned out nothing like they thought. My main priority is keeping her on the planet! Thank you for your support.

I bloody did it!! W9R3 done. So proud of myself. Thank you for all the encouragement on this thread you wonderful women ❤️